Job Summary

Provides social work services to pediatric patients and families. Maximizes the benefit of health care services provided and enhances adjustments to diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and transition to the patient's home and community. Provides emotional support, advocacy, and community referrals.

Job Specific Duties

• Completes in-depth psychosocial assessment interviews and formulates treatment plans that include impressions, establishing supportive relationships with families and providing therapeutic interventions.  
• Conducts comprehensive pre-discharge screenings within 24 hours of admission to identify diverse needs. Collaborates closely with multidisciplinary team members such as case managers to implement safe, timely, cost effective discharge plans or transfers. Keeps families well informed of completed/pending interventions and provides them with realistic options. 
• Documents in the patient’s electronic health record within 24 hours of communicating with patient/family; regularly enters team-oriented follow-up notes; when requested, generates Social Work activity reports.
• Makes decisions in a self-directed manner, consults with supervisor or director regarding complex cases, and discusses pertinent cases with fellow social workers. Thoroughly presents case transfer information to next shift peers. 
• Effectively manages assigned caseload while prioritizing cases based on urgency, acuity, and overall impact on families. Assists with off-service case assignments/rotations as well as with departmental scheduling/staffing needs. 
• Responds promptly to crisis situations. Thoroughly addresses end of life feelings/concerns. Provides patients/families with appropriate support as they face difficult decisions. Monitors compliance with death packet content completion, makes timely referrals to Life Alliance, and assists families with funeral resources.
• Ensures accountability to take the lead on trauma, child abuse/neglect, human trafficking, and domestic violence situations. Reports cases to appropriate protective service agencies for further investigation per hospital policy.  
• Responds to requests for information and referrals. Serves as a resource figure to families and team members regarding available Social Work services and community agencies. 
• Participates in diverse departmental or hospital projects/activities, committees, initiatives, leadership councils, and other supportive/educational endeavors. 
• Participates in the orientation process of new social workers, interns, and multidisciplinary team members. When indicated, serves as a field instructor or task supervisor for Social Work students.